Pages

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Spa Day!

I love "memory gifts". To me "memory gifts" involve receiving the opportunity to experience something fun or special (big bonus if it's with someone special!) and then treasuring that memory as a keepsake instead of a gift in the form of a physical object. It can be something as simple as a tea date with a good friend at a fancy location; or it can be something as extravagant as an exotic holiday. I have a whole box filled to the brim with such keepsakes - each one of them more precious to me than the next.

This afternoon I added another keepsake to my box: Will and I went on our first ever spa date! Will and my mom-in-law secretly teamed up to arrange the perfect holiday treat for us: A couples Indian head massage at the "De Oude Kraal Spa" just outside of Bloemfontein.

De Oude Kraal exceeded all of our expectations. Located on a farm approximately 35 km to the south of Bloemfontein, the atmosphere there is peaceful, quiet and relaxing. The service is outstanding - after changing into our fluffy gowns, we were treated to complimentary welcome foot massages and juice (I could have gone home a happy girl after the foot massages - they were sooooo good), where after we were invited to enjoy a variety of (complimentary) cakes, tarts, muffins, scones or fruit with coffee or tea before our main treatments.

The head massages were blissful. I'm almost sure that I dozed off at one stage - it was just that good! Our therapists were friendly and professional and we both felt at ease and relaxed.

The use of all the spa facilities (saunas, steam rooms, swimming pools, hot tubs, etc.) were included in our package, so Will and I went for a refreshing, ice cold swim after a dip in the hot tub right after our treatments.

What an absolutely perfect afternoon - I feel like a brand new person! Thanks so much, Mom and Will!

It sounds amazing. I love spa and thermal baths. I would like to spend some weeks in those places but my wife finds it boring. However we have free ancient roman baths in our city so I can enjoy this little place.